• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.157-168
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• 2000

Sea urchin S. intermedius occurring in the Korean east coast is a cold water species that belongs to the family Strongylocentrotidae of Echinoidea. Although it is known that there are nine species in the family, species identification criteria, phylogenetic relationships, time and process of evolution of the family members have not been uncovered clearly. In the present study, I tried to find some clues to such problems for S. intermedius by means of DNA sequences. For this, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), one of the mitochondrial genes that evolve fast and follow maternal inheritance was analyzed. DNA was extracted from the female gonad of S. intermedius, a segment of COI gene amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and finally a total of 1077 base pair sequence of COI obtained by cloning and sequencing the PCR product. The sequence was compared with homologous genes of other sea urchins and echinoderm species. Phylogenetic trees of the COI gene segment revealed that S. intenedius is a sister species of S. purpuratus which lives along the east coast of the Paciflc. With reference to the fossil records of sea urchins and genetic distances in the molecular phylogenies, it is estimated that the two species were separated about 0.89 million years ago when the earth temperature fluctuated significantly. The current disjunct distribution patterns of the two species and the climate change of the earth at the time of separation suggest that speciation might have occurred by vicariance. The COI gene sequence obtained here now can be used as a molecular character which discerns S. intermedius from the other sea urchin species of Strongylocentrotidae.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.44-48
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• 2015

Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) IIIA is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by abnormalities of the enzyme Heparan N-sulfatase that is required for degradation of heparan sulfate. The patient in this study was a 5 year-old boy who presented with macrocephaly and developmental delay. Urinary excretion of glycosaminoglycan was increased (26 g/moL creatinine, reference range: <7 g/moL creatinine) and a distinct band of heparan sulfate was shown in electrophoresis. Heparan N-sulfatase activity was significantly decreased in skin fibroblasts (0.2 pmoL/min/mg protein, reference range: 9-64 pmoL/min/mg protein). PCR and direct sequencing analysis of the SGSH gene showed compound heterozygous mutations: c.1040C>T (p.S347F) and c.703G>A (p.D235N). This is the first report for a Korean patient with MPS IIIA who was confirmed by biochemical investigation and molecular genetic analyses.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.947-952
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• 2011

A number of epidemiological studies have identified human papillomavirus (HPV) types 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 10, 27, 57, and 65 in cutaneous common warts. However, identification of the HPV subtype by conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is time consuming with its multi-step laboratory process. In this study, we aim to develop a specific one-step multiplex polymerase chain reaction method which capably identifies six different HPV genotypes related to common warts. By HPV DNA sequence analysis, 6 pairs of specific primers were designed from the intergenic regions of genes L1 to E6, and from genes E2 to L2. DNA sequence analysis with the L1 gene sequence of the sample was performed to measure the specificity of multiplex PCR. HPV-1, -2, -3, -4, -27, and -57 were identified without cross amplification in 109 out of 129 samples. The sensitivity and specificity of our set of primers in detecting HPV were 85% and 99.5%, respectively. For the 20 samples where HPV type was not identifiable by our batch of primer sets, multiplex PCR with an additional set of HPV primers was done, where 7 were found positive for HPV-7 or -65. Our results demonstrate that the newly designed multiplex PCR can rapidly detect the specific HPV subtype involved in common warts with high accuracy.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.285-291
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• 2008

Background: We conducted a case-control study to evaluate the potential association between SERPINA1 genotypes ($M1_{Val}$, $M1_{Ala}$, S, and Z) and the risk COPD. Methods: The study population consisted of 93 patients with COPD and 112 healthy controls. The polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism for detecting the SERPINA1 variants. Results: The M2 allele of the SERPINA1 gene was significantly associated with the risk of COPD in Koreans. The effect of the M2 allele on the risk of COPD was more pronounced in the subgroup<64 years. Conclusion: These results suggest that SERPINA1 polymorphisms may contribute to a genetic predisposition for COPD. However, additional studies with larger sample sizes are required to confirm our findings.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.199-205
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• 1998

The present study was performed to analyze the expression of LH genes in the rat ovary. Expression of LH subunit genes in the rat ovary was demonstrated by amplification of ovarian RNA by RT-PCR. The ovarian $LH_\beta$ transcripts contained at least two parts of the published cDNA structure, the pituitary exons 1, 2 and 3 and the part of testicular ex on 1 in the major trancripts form in rat testis. Using RIA, significant amount of LH-like molecules were detected in crude ovarian extracts, and the competition curves with increasing amount of tissue extracts were parallel with those of standard peptide, indicating that the ovarian immunoreactive LH-like material is similar to authentic pituitary LH molecule. The administration of PMSG to immature rats resulted in a sharp decrease of the ovarian LH contents after 24 h post-injection. In conclusion, these findings demonstrate that genes for LH subunits are expressed in the rat ovary, and suggest that LH can playa central role in regulation of female reproduction with both endocrine (by pituitary LH) and auto- and/or para-crine (by ovarian LH) manner.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.39-43
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• 2008

Objectives: The pathophysiology of restless legs syndrome (RLS) is not obvious, but many promising theories involve dopaminergic deficiency and genetic causes. The RLS is presumed to occur more frequently among schizophrenic patients who take antipsychotics, most of which blocks the dopamine receptors. This study aimed to investigate whether dopamine transporter gene (DAT1) 40 base pair (bp) variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism is associated with the antipsychotic-induced RLS in schizophrenia. Methods: We determined the diagnosis of RLS among the 190 Korean schizophrenic patients by the diagnostic criteria of the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group (IRLSSG). Genotyping was performed for the 40bp VNTR in DAT1 gene using polymerase chain reaction. Results: We separated the schizophrenic patients into 44 patients with RLS and 146 patients without RLS. The genotype and allele frequencies did not differ significantly between two groups. Conclusions: These results suggest that DAT1 gene 40bp VNTR is not associated with the antipsychotic-induced RLS in schizophrenia. To confirm these results, larger-scale association study is needed in the future.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.25-31
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• 2004

Background : IFN-${\gamma}$ is the main effector mediator of the host immune response against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Evaluating the IFN-${\gamma}$ gene expression in response to M. tuberculosis antigens may help in elucidating the host defense mechanism against M. tuberculosis and in the development of a vaccine. Methods : The IFN-${\gamma}$ mRNA expression in the lymphocytes obtained from pleural effusions from tuberculous pleurisy patients (TB-PLC) after in vitro stimulation with whole cell M. tuberculosis(H37Rv), purified protein derivatives(PPD), man-lipoarabinamman (man-LAM), ara-LAM and Antigen 85B(Ag85B) were evaluated. The degree of IFN-${\gamma}$ mRNA expression was determined by a semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. Results : M. tuberculosis induced the expression of IFN-${\gamma}$ mRNA in the TB-PLC in time and dose dependent manners. The PPD and Ag85B induced high levels of IFN-${\gamma}$ mRNA expression in the TB-PLC. However, man-LAM inhibited IFN-${\gamma}$ mRNA expression in the TB-PLC, while ara-LAM did not. Conclusion : IFN-${\gamma}$ mRNA expression in TB-PLC is stimulated by PPD and Ag85B, but inhibited by man-LAM.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.9
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• pp.1003-1010
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• 2017

An open reading frame coding for mannanase predicted from the partial genomic sequence of Paenibacillus woosongensis was cloned into Escherichia coli by polymerase chain reaction amplification, and completely sequenced. This mannanase gene, designated man26AT, consisted of 3,162 nucleotides encoding a polypeptide of 1,053 amino acid residues. Based on the deduced amino acid sequence, Man26AT was identified as a modular enzyme, which included a catalytic domain belonging to the glycosyl hydrolase family 26 and two carbohydrate-binding modules, CBM27 and CBM11. The amino acid sequence of Man26AT was homologous to that of several putative mannanases, with identity of 81% for P. ihumii and identity of less than 57% for other strains of Paenibacillus. A cell-free extract of recombinant E. coli carrying the man26AT gene showed maximal mannanase activity at $55^{\circ}C$ and pH 5.5. The enzyme retained above 80% of maximal activity after preincubation for 1 h at $50^{\circ}C$. Man26AT was comparably active on locust bean gum (LBG), galactomanan, and kojac glucomannan, whereas it did not exhibit activity on carboxymethylcellulose, xylan, or para-nitrophenyl-${\beta}$-mannopyranoside. The common end products liberated from mannooligosaccharides, including mannotriose, mannotetraose, mannopentaose, and mannohexaose, or LBG by Man26AT were mannose, mannobiose, and mannotriose. Mannooligosacchrides larger than mannotriose were found in enzymatic hydrolyzates of LBG and guar gum, respectively. However, Man26AT was unable to hydrolyze mannobiose. Man26AT was intracellularly degraded into at least three active proteins with different molecular masses by zymogram.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.13-25
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• 2009

Purpose: The DNA repair protein, $O^6$-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), removes alkyl adducts from the $O^6$ position of guanine. Epigenetic inactivation of MGMT has been found in human neoplasia and considered one of the implicated factors in chemoresistance. Materials and Methods: Sixty-two patiensts with soft tissue sarcomas (STS) were analyzed for the status of MGMT protein expression by immunohistochemistry and the promoter hypermethylation of the MGMT gene using methylation-specific PCR. Result: The loss of MGMT expression was found in 20 cases (32.3%) of total 62 STS. MGMT promoter hypermethylation rate was 25.0% (11/44 cases). The loss of MGMT expression showed significant association with high AJCC stage, high FNCLCC grade, and aggressive behavior. However,when the group who received chemotherapy was analyzed (n=27), loss of MGMT expression was correlated with worse survival in multivariate analysis (p=0.024). MGMT promoter hypermethylation is associated with high FNCLCC grade. MGMT promoter hypermethylation status had a strong correlation with loss of MGMT expression (p=0.000). Conclusion: Our results suggest that MGMT promoter hypermethylation and loss of MGMT expression had a tendency to be associated with poor prognosis and that loss of MGMT protein expression is frequently occurs via MGMT promoter hypermethylation.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.145-157
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• 2020

Purpose: This study was to determine the possible effects of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) through cell survival genes of the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway when applying an hydrophobically modified glycol chitosan (HGC)-based nanocontrolled release system to human gingival fibroblasts in oral soft tissue regeneration. Materials and Methods: An HGC-based nano-controlled release system was produced, followed by the loading of TCA and EGF. The group was divided into control (CON), TCA-loaded nano-controlled release system (EXP1), and the TCA- and EGF- individually loaded nano-controlled release system (EXP2). A total for 29 genes related to the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway were analyzed after 48h of culture in human gingival fibroblasts. Real-time PCR, 1- way ANOVA and multiple regression analysis were performed. Results: Cell survival genes were significantly upregulated in EXP1 and EXP2. From multiple regression analysis, ITGB1 was determined to be the most influential factor for AKT1 expression. Conclusion: The application of TCA and EGF through the HGC-based nano-controlled release system can up-regulate the cell survival pathway.